CHILDREN are getting their first taste of life at a secondary school as they return to class following weeks of home-schooling during lockdown.

All but two schools in Southend are re-opening for more pupils this week – including Darlinghurst in Leigh which is accommodating its Year 6 children at Belfairs Academy in Leigh, a secondary school.

Nursery, Reception, Year One and Year Six pupils are returning to schools after risk assessments were carried out as the Government eased lockdown rules.

On June 5, 21 schools re-opened to allow the pupils to return, along with children of key workers who have been looked after in schools since the UK entered lockdown.

One of these, Belfairs, is welcoming Year Six pupils from Darlinghurst several months early to allow for better transition to secondary education.

Emma Nicholls, headteacher, posted a supportive message on the school’s Instagram page, saying: “This is the start of a very new chapter that I know none of you expected to be the end of your Year Six experience.

“We have gone through a lot of change, and we have tried to prepare you for that change so you’re ready for anything that comes your way.

“I know you’re expecting to transition to secondary school, but potentially not right now and certainly not with your Year Six teachers and members of Year Five staff as well.

"But what you have is an opportunity that you can get a taste of what another building looks like and feels like and prepare for transition in a setting with people that you know.”

In a briefing note to Southend councillors, it was revealed ten more schools opened to more years from yesterday, with the final two set to re-open on Monday.

However, schools may choose to change this if they feel it necessary.

The briefing note from education officers to councillors explained: “In some cases, schools are having to make alternative arrangements, such as operating on a rota basis or on different days, or indeed not being able to accommodate a particular cohort.

“This is a consequence of the fact that following risk assessments, some current school buildings will not allow those year groups to return under social distancing guidelines, and staff inductions have been required.”